Coast to coast, the USA is littered with eerie abandoned places, from deserted theme parks and ivy-clad mansions to once-lavish resorts left to decay. Here, we dig into America's underbelly to reveal fascinating sights that have long been forgotten.
Click through this gallery to go on a tour of America's 95 eeriest and most intriguing abandoned places...
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park certainly wouldn't look out of place in a horror movie, with its rusting Ferris wheel, abandoned ticket booths and creaking swing rides. And its real story is pretty harrowing too. Way back in the 18th century, Indigenous peoples and white settlers fought over the land here, leading to gruesome killings. Then, when the park opened in the 1920s, it was the site of several terrible accidents. It was finally deserted in the 1960s, and now the Dark Carnival event (typically held annually) milks the spooky atmosphere.
This imposing Gothic-style prison dates back to the 1870s and, over the years, has garnered attention for its stark conditions, its historic riots and breakouts, and its many chilling executions. Now, the prison has been abandoned for decades and tourists rather than convicts pass through its gates. You can explore the musty cell blocks and echoing yard on a history tour, join a ghost hunt, or even take part in a themed escape game.
Few ghost towns are as stirring as Bodie, a stuck-in-time mining settlement just east of the Sierras. Prospectors struck gold here in 1859 and eventually the town housed around 10,000 people, complete with saloons, a jail, a bank and plenty of homes. But when the riches dried up, Bodie's resident caught the train elsewhere, leaving the town abandoned. Now, it's protected as Bodie State Historic Park, and visitors can roam its dusty streets, spotting burnt-out cars and ramshackle homes.
Woodstock's Overlook Mountain House is really just an empty shell invaded by trees and shrubs, but it's haunting all the same. It was once a luxurious hotel opened in the 19th century when New York's Catskill Mountains region was blossoming as a sought-after vacation spot. But poor transport links to its mountaintop location, plus a series of fires, led the swish hotel to be sold to the state and deserted. It still pulls in visitors, though: hikers on Overlook Mountain come to see its concrete husk rising from the wilderness.
Plonked in the Sonoran Desert, Vulture City harks back to the 1860s, when it flourished as a gold-mining settlement. In its heyday, some 5,000 people called Vulture City home and the mine produced more than 300,000 ounces of gold in its time. Things took a turn in the 1940s when the Second World War led to the mine's closure. Today you can step back in time and explore the restored post office, cookhouse and more on a self-guided tour or a ghost tour.
The mighty, terracotta-coloured bulk of Bannerman Castle broods over the Hudson River, and has done so since the early 20th century. It was the vision of Scottish tycoon Francis Bannerman VI, who was in the military equipment business. This elaborate pile was actually built to house his ammunition and weapons, though he died before the project was completed. More bad luck followed, with the sinking of the island's ferryboat and a gutting fire. Now, adventurous tourists descend on the crumbling ruin via boat and explore on escorted or self-guided tours.
One of America's most fascinating abandoned movie sets, this small-town scene is left over from Big Fish, a 2003 Tim Burton film. It's a strange place, on an island along the Alabama River, with a quaint, white-washed church, a string of ramshackle houses and its fair share of wandering goats. In the movie, it serves as Spectre, a fictional town that receives a visit from Will Bloom (Ewan McGregor), who's on a journey of reconciliation with his father. There's a small fee to explore the island.
There's something eerie about these ornate Corinthian columns, which rise to nothing in the US National Arboretum. From 1828, they were part of the US Capitol Building – but the giant and heavy iron dome that was completed in 1864 left these show-stopping structures obsolete. They were moved to the arboretum in the 1980s, and now they stand in a meadow, repeated grandly in a reflecting pool.
Love this? Follow us on Facebook for travel inspiration and more
It's only been just over a decade since this 1950s California motel closed, so it still remains relatively intact – and it's a great stop for urban photographers. The big, kitsch sign is reminiscent of the 1950s, and its dramatic sloping roof, graffiti-covered pool and palm-dotted location love the camera too. It's privately owned, so you shouldn't enter the buildings, but you can sneak a peek from the outside as you drive along Baker Boulevard.
These eerie tunnels and arches sprawl beneath Indianapolis's City Market. They originally formed the basement of Tomlinson Hall, a busy public meeting space. But after the hall burned in a fire in 1958 and its ruins were razed shortly afterwards, this subterranean space was left deserted. Now, guided tours are offered by Indiana Landmarks – though planned construction works around the market mean the tours won't be running in 2024 or 2025.
The imposing Ohio State Reformatory was in operation for a century, and, at the prison's peak, its inmates numbered in their thousands. Stories of poor sanitation and serious overcrowding plagued the place, however, and it eventually closed in the 1990s. Since then it has served as the setting for Frank Darabont's prison epic, The Shawshank Redemption, and a whole host of themed tours are available, based around everything from Hollywood history to the electric chair.
This haunting ghost town rises up from the wilderness in southeastern Alaska and dates back to the early 20th century, when copper was found in the area. After the discovery a mining camp sprang up and mushroomed, flourishing until the 1930s when copper supplies dwindled. The railroad service ceased in this decade, and Kennecott was left to the elements. Today, it's protected as part of Wrangell-St Elias National Park, and you can wander among the deserted mining buildings on a walking tour.
The groaning industrial structures of Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces have a harrowing history. Dating back to the 19th century, the facility produced pig iron, and the work was dangerous business. Many labourers lost their lives onsite, including James Wormwood, the tyrannical foreman. Rumour has it that the furnaces are haunted by these souls today, and you can hunt for ghosts on a guided or self-guided tour.
Motor City has its fair share of abandoned buildings, and this collection of mouldering structures at the old Belle Isle Zoo is among the most stirring. This was once one of Detroit's prized attractions, drawing families from the late 19th century onwards with species including bears and elephants. However, it was closed in 2002 due to budget constraints and now its windowless, graffiti-plastered buildings house rotting exhibits and greenery.
You might not know that this elaborately tiled station exists beneath the streets of the Big Apple. It was actually the first subway station in New York City, opening in 1904 and operating up until 1945. By this decade, longer, more modern train cars had been introduced and the station was no longer functional. Now you can gaze up at its grand vaulted ceilings on a tour with the New York Transit Museum.
Wandering about Atalaya Castle's empty shell, it's hard to picture it as a sumptuous Moorish and Spanish-inspired mansion – but that's exactly what it once was. It was commissioned by philanthropist Archer Huntington in the 1930s – his wife, Anna, was in ill health and it was thought that South Carolina's sunny climate would help her. However, Anna outlived Archer, and ultimately deserted the house. It fell into disrepair and is now located in Huntington Beach State Park, which allows self-guided tours of the property.
Looking like a UFO hulking in the Illinois countryside, the Prairie Observatory had a short life. It first opened in the 1960s, intended for use by budding astronomers from the nearby university – but it ultimately closed in the 1980s. Now its rusting shell is crawling with graffiti, and it can be viewed from the outside on a hike through the area.
Spanish moss cloaks this haunting ruin, the remains of the abandoned Sheldon Church, in the southern part of South Carolina. It was deserted more than 150 years ago, after being burned by Union troops led by the formidable General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War. You can still imagine its former majesty, though, as you gaze up at the Greek-Revival-style columns and graceful arches that remain.
Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of treasures, from amazing wildlife like black bears to viewpoints offering sweeping vistas over forested peaks. But these deserted cabins are an unexpected surprise. They were originally loggers' cabins before being turned into holiday homes, but they were eventually abandoned and left to rot. Now, though, they've been stabilised by the park service, so you can peek inside.
Folded away in Texas' Big Bend region, Terlingua is a ghost town with a breathtaking location. Plonked in the middle of the desert and flanked by the Chisos Mountains, the former mining settlement flourished at the turn of the century, growing to a population of 2,000. However, the Chisos Mining Company was bankrupt by the 1940s and Terlingua's inhabitants poured out. Now, there are burnt-out cars and crumbling buildings aplenty, but a thriving artistic community has also built up in the area.
This Floridian theme park was once a buzzing, family-friendly attraction home to one of the world's largest wooden roller coasters. The Hurricane was the park's crown jewel, and its wooden track wriggled out for some 3,200 feet (975m). However, when the ride closed due to maintenance issues in 2011, the park's fate was sealed. The entire site shut in 2015 and now greenery bursts through ruined rides while ticket booths stand overgrown and festering.
There's something incredibly haunting about an abandoned church, and this Gothic pile in Gary is a fine example. The building's dramatic vaulted ceiling, grand pillars and stained glass looked mighty impressive when it was in use, and even in its dilapidated state it retains a sense of majesty. The city of Gary was once dominated by the steel industry, but as it went into decline the population here plummeted. The church was a victim of this downturn and it remains in ruins today.
Another casualty of the collapsed steel industry in Gary was Union Station. The Beaux Arts-style station building was constructed in 1910, and was vital for the booming trade. It eventually shuttered in the 1950s, as the industry showed no sign of bouncing back and residents spilled out of the town. The impressive facade remains intact and the station is undergoing a multi-million-dollar refurbishment aimed at turning it into a tech hub, though the project is currently on hold.
Bombay Beach is a curious kind of place. The once-thriving resort is gathered at the edge of Salton Sea, a shrinking lake that's releasing noxious chemicals into the air as it recedes. As the lake diminished, the towns around it did too, leaving behind festering houses and streets littered with furniture. Among them was Bombay Beach, which became all but a ghost town. Today the town retains a very small population and hosts an annual gathering of artists.
Coco Palms Resort is a deserted slice of paradise. Opened in the 1950s, it offered tropical luxury and was known for its star-studded guest list, which included the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. It even served as a location for 1961 film Blue Hawaii, starring the King himself. Sadly, though, the resort was ripped apart by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and forced to close. Hyatt unsuccessfully attempted to revamp the resort in 2018 and developers are now trying again, with refurbishments starting in 2024 with a view to reopening in 2026.
As its name suggests, this dinky settlement was once a busy cotton mill town, which eventually went into decline. The town's history includes fires and floods, though, miraculously, a string of original buildings remain. Most famously, the village served as the location for District 12 in the dystopian Hunger Games franchise. Now you can tour the site and even stay overnight in House 12.
Ha Ha Tonka Castle is an astonishing sight, tucked away in the wilderness of Ha Ha Tonka State Park, and watching over the jagged Lake of the Ozarks. Begun in the early 20th century, it was the vision of businessman Robert Snyder who was inspired by Europe's majestic castles, but he sadly died before its completion. His sons finished the job, but the fortress was swallowed by fire in the 1940s and abandoned for good. Explore the eerie ruins on a hike through the park.
This striking Art Deco building in the Big Easy certainly turns heads. It harks back to the 1930s and, as its name suggests, once served as a laundry facility for the General Laundry, Cleaners and Dyers company. Though it's been threatened with the wrecking ball many times over the decades, its colour-splashed facade has now earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Igloo City – a bulbous white dome covered in gabled windows – looks like it belongs on another planet. It's out in the wilds of southern Alaska, not far from Denali National Park, and was originally intended to be a hotel. However, the curious property, which sits almost exactly halfway between Fairbanks and Anchorage, was never completed. Despite passing through multiple hands, it remains abandoned.
The eeriest abandoned hotels and resorts from around the world
This is the mother of America's abandoned prisons and one of California's most popular tourist attractions. Nicknamed 'the Rock' for obvious reasons, the notoriously tough prison incarcerated famous mobsters like Al Capone during its time in operation. The facility eventually closed in the 1960s, and today visitors can take a ferry over to the echoing prison and choose from a variety of tours.
You might be surprised if you happen upon Old Town Mall, an abandoned shopping district in the east of Baltimore. Here, weathered storefronts are boarded up and plastered with graffiti, and the pedestrianised walkways are eerily quiet. The historic area was once a buzzy retail district, but it fell into decline after the Second World War and never recovered, despite efforts to rebrand and revive it. Those who still operate businesses in the area have appealed to the city for help.
Like the rest of America's Southwest, Colorado has a healthy smattering of mining settlements-turned-ghost towns. This one on Castle Creek is archetypal, springing up in the 1880s after prospectors found silver in the area. At its peak, it was home to about 2,000 people, lots of drinking dens and a pair of newspapers. But when the mines went bust, the town leaked inhabitants. Now it's watched over by Aspen Historical Society and you can read historical plaques as you wander between abandoned buildings, including a post office and saloon.
There's a labyrinth of creepy tunnels sprawling out beneath the City of Roses. Known as the Shanghai Tunnels, they were historically designed to transport goods from docking ships quickly and efficiently. However, they were also apparently used for the abhorrent practice of 'shanghaiing': that is, capturing and enslaving men and selling them off as sailors. Unsurprisingly, it's said that these deserted tunnels are haunted today.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium is an architectural masterpiece and, apparently, one of the most haunted places in America. The Tudor Gothic-Revival building started life as a tuberculosis hospital in the 1920s, but was decommissioned in the 1960s as treatments for TB improved. After a stretch as a care home for the elderly, it was finally abandoned. Book onto a tour or ghost hunt to explore the creepy building.
The Quincy copper mine complex is one of the best-preserved in the States and is protected by the Quincy Mine Hoist Association. The mining industry flourished here through the 19th century, but efforts were abandoned in the 20th century as profits declined. Modern tours duck into the No. 2 Shaft House, which dates back to 1908, and take visitors underground where you'll spot old mining cars.
There's very little remaining at the site of Wichita's Joyland, a once-shiny theme park that closed in 2006 following plummeting visitor numbers. Its highlights were a large wooden roller coaster and Whacky Shack, a fun-house-style dark ride. Since the abandonment, fires have ripped through the site, and what's left is tattered and choked with greenery.
The late sculptor Bob Cassilly had grand plans for Cementland when he began the project in 2000. His vision was to transform a former cement factory and dumping site into a work of public art. He set about fashioning sculptures from the leftover dirt, cement and machinery, but the project came to an abrupt halt in 2011 when Cassilly was killed on the site. Police concluded that he died in a bulldozer accident but members of his family have refuted those findings, insisting that foul play was involved.
LA's Griffith Park is massive, so you might miss this little-known picnic spot. Benches are set up at the site of an abandoned former zoo, which was opened back in 1912 and deserted in the 1960s, when LA's modern-day zoo opened. A series of rocky, cave-like enclosures remain, so you can eat your sandwiches while imagining the facility's former residents (from monkeys to bears).
Wandering the abandoned blocks of Yuma Territorial Prison, you can imagine the stark life that was afforded to prisoners here. It was opened back in 1876, and conditions would have been harsh, not least because of the searing hot summers that Yuma is famous for. Outmoded forms of punishment like the ball and chain were also in use. The prison was shuttered at the beginning of the 20th century, and now Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park keeps its sombre history alive with a museum too.
Step back in time to the 1860s, when prospector John White struck gold in this area and the town of Bannack mushroomed around the mining buildings. Bannack boomed for decades and its operations continued right up until the 1930s, when reserves were depleted. The place was all but abandoned by the end of the 1950s, but some 60 buildings remain today. You can piece together the town's history on a walking tour that passes an old hotel, a courthouse, a saloon and more.
Another American prison whose gates have long since clanged shut, the Old Idaho Penitentiary was opened in 1872 and took in formidable inmates for more than a century. Its past is peppered with tales of riots and breakouts, and modern visitors to the abandoned facility can learn about this history while passing through chilling cell blocks.
For more than 60 years, the doors to the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital were clamped firmly shut. But the Save Ellis Island organisation now offers hard-hat tours that tell the story of this once-forgotten hospital. It opened in the early 1900s and served as a holding facility where the health of incoming US immigrants was assessed. It also served time as a military hospital, before being abandoned in the 1950s. Its decrepit walls, shattered windows and chilly corridors make for a hair-raising trip.
This tangle of tunnels beneath the city of Cincinnati makes up the largest abandoned subway system in the United States. Its construction started in the early 20th century, but a mix of soaring costs and the challenges posed by the Great Depression stopped it in its tracks. The project was cancelled by the end of the 1920s and it's remained abandoned ever since.
In a forest near Chesterfield, New Hampshire, you'll find the little that's left of Madame Sherri's Castle. A glittering mansion once stood here, the vision of Madame Antoinette Sherri, an eccentric costume designer from the Big Apple. She used the pile as a space for her grand parties, but when her funds dried up, her beloved castle was left to rot. A fire sealed its fate in the 1960s and now just a handful of ruins remain, including this haunting 'staircase to nowhere'.
Rhyolite was every bit the classic Gold Rush town. Gold reserves were discovered in this region, on the edge of Death Valley, in the early 20th century and a mining camp soon sprang up. A school, a railway station and plenty of shops served Rhyolite's bustling population, but the mining operation eventually declined and residents had started to spill out by the 1920s. It's still possible to wander among the remaining structures today, though be aware that part of the town is set on private land.
This echoing military battery was once a key defensive site along the Washington coast, and part of a trio of structures known as 'the Triangle of Fire'. Long decommissioned, its abandoned bunkers and pillboxes remain in the Fort Worden Historical State Park for visitors to explore. The site is purportedly haunted too.
Hovering above the Crystal River, this decrepit mill makes quite the photo opportunity. It wouldn't look out of place in a fairy-tale film, though its original purpose was much more prosaic. It dates back to the 1890s, when it was used as a power plant for local mines. Those mines closed in the 20th century and the mill was abandoned. It's a listed site today and you can find it on a hike through the countryside around Marble, in western Colorado.
Healthy silver deposits were discovered in this region in the 1860s and mining was begun on Buena Vista Peak in central California. Word soon spread and the operation exploded, helped along by wealthy businessman Victor Beaudry, who ended up owning many of the mines in the region. Later, zinc was also found here, but works came to a stop in the 1930s and the place was abandoned. Tours will show you the scattered remaining buildings, plus recovered mining relics at the General Store.
This hair-raising church is the only remnant of the once-bustling town of West Boylston, in eastern Massachusetts. The construction of the Wachusett Reservoir in the 1890s led to the displacement of the community, and its other buildings were completely swallowed by water. Miraculously, the body of this old 19th-century church survived and its dramatic shell still broods at the water's edge.
There are few things on the planet more creepy than an abandoned cemetery. This one lies in southwestern Philadelphia, and was once one of the state's largest burial sites. However, a lack of ownership means it was all but forgotten, and its many tombs were at the mercy of Mother Nature, left to crack, crumble and be choked by greenery. Though it still has no official proprietor, a passionate not-for-profit group has put effort into restoring it.
Opened in the mid-1800s, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a National Historic Landmark with a harrowing history. A huge number of patients passed through the facility during its many decades in operation, and they were apparently subject to outmoded and contemptible treatments including electroshock 'therapies'. Now, paranormal and history tours weave through the property, telling stories about the long-abandoned former hospital.
This mouldering ghost town in central Alabama was once the state capital. It was awarded the status in 1819, but stripped of it just as quickly, due to its apparent proneness to flooding. The area was also devastated by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and was the site of a large prison. Eventually, the town was abandoned and now its empty, soiled buildings are surrounded by moss-hung trees and visited by curious tourists.
Another of America's long-abandoned military forts, Fort Humboldt was established in the mid-1800s and many infamous soldiers served here. The most well-known of all was Union Army leader Captain Ulysses S. Grant, who was on assignment in 1854. Troops were eventually withdrawn after the Civil War, and the facility was abandoned by the 1870s. Visitors can explore the fort, which sits at the edge of Humboldt Bay, and pore over outdoor exhibits telling the story of the historic buildings.
Eastern State Penitentiary is probably America's most famous prison. Built in the 1820s, it's often tipped as the world's first 'real penitentiary', purposely designed to jolt inmates into feelings of remorse through long periods of solitary confinement. The intimidating, Gothic-style building incarcerated high-profile criminals including gangster Al Capone, but after more than a century in operation, it closed in the 1970s. Now its decaying cell blocks are host to history tours and after-dark ghost hunts.
Now a crumbling, red-brick shell, this mansion by the Hudson River was originally built for socialite Elizabeth Schermerhorn Jones in the 1850s. It was so majestic that it encouraged the construction of more, similar estates in the surrounding area, and is said to have inspired the phrase 'keeping up with the Joneses' too. The property changed hands after Jones died, and was eventually abandoned in the 1950s. It was sold at auction in 2016, but remains in a tumble-down state for now.
Gold ore was found in this region in the 1860s and South Pass City was built up in a flash. The town boomed through the late 19th century, but a financial downturn led to its abandonment by the 1930s. Some 20 original buildings still remain at the site, including the South Pass Hotel, the Exchange Bank and a saloon. An interpretative centre puts the abandoned structures into context too.
Like many of America's abandoned prisons, the Missouri State Penitentiary has a chequered history. The prison was opened in 1836 and its past is littered with fights and riots (including an infamous one in 1954), escape attempts and harrowing executions. Prisoners passed through the gates for 168 years, until the penitentiary was eventually shut down in 2004. Now a variety of history tours unpick the past in varying degrees of depth.
The Talkeetna Mountains are a glorious setting for this Alaskan ghost town. Gold was struck in the region at the end of the 19th century, and the Independence Mine began operation in 1938, after two existing mines combined. Many abandoned mining buildings still remain and you can take a self-guided or group tour of the groaning structures out in the wilderness.
Resembling a medieval castle, this hulking building once served as a jail, with prisoners put to work for the benefit of the community. It dates back to 1897 and was built by inmates themselves, who mined limestone from the local area. The prison changed hands many times and was eventually deserted in the 1970s. Today graffiti curls over its fort-like exterior and you can view the building from the outside.
Not all ghost towns had a gold rush. This set of creaking structures in southwestern New Mexico grew around a silver-mining operation. Shakespeare thrived in the late 19th century, but spiralled into decline as quickly as it sprang up. Mines began to close in 1893, as a depression gripped the town, and by the start of the new century, it was all but deserted. You can explore Shakespeare with a guide: 1.5-hour walking tours take visitors past buildings including an old hotel and saloon.
The towers and turrets of this fort-like prison look pretty intimidating – and that was the intention. It was constructed in the 1860s and would go on to imprison some of Illinois' most hardened criminals: at one point, more than 2,000 people were packed into its thick walls, leading to dire conditions. Since the prison closed in 2002, it has remained abandoned, save from tour groups and film crews – hit TV series Prison Break was shot on location here.
Established in 1880, in a bucolic spot along Chalk Creek and in the middle of the Sawatch Range, Saint Elmo was centred around both gold- and silver-mining operations. The town grew to a population of around 2,000 people, with many wooden houses, a blacksmith store and a school. However, the industry eventually faltered and the train service into town halted – Saint Elmo was deserted by the 1950s. You're free to wander among the remaining structures and visit the antique-stuffed general store.
Flanked by shrub-strewn mountains, Ruby feels like a truly authentic ghost town. There are no souvenir shops or shootout re-enactments here – instead, you'll find a series of former public and mining buildings with crumbling bricks and rusting corrugated roofs scattered about the scrub. The mining town has been abandoned since the 1940s and it's possible to take a self-guided tour – here the decrepit schoolhouse sits dwarfed beneath Montana Peak.
Hospitals like this one once existed all over the States and Europe, as deadly smallpox ravaged communities, and they were typically built on islands in order to keep infected people away from healthy populations. Roosevelt Island's hospital was constructed in the 1850s in a grand, Gothic-Revival style and it operated for around 20 years, before becoming a nurse's dormitory. It was abandoned completely in the 1950s and now its haunting ruin casts a striking silhouette.
This squat structure in northeastern Texas looks every bit like an alien spaceship. However, it very much belongs to planet Earth and was actually conceived in the Sixties as a portable, prefabricated tiny home, designed to be popped up wherever it was needed. The futuristic structures were designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen and this one was ultimately deserted. Even though it's covered in graffiti and its interior is gutted, this pop of orange on the Texan landscape is still a striking sight.
The West has the lion's share of America's ghost towns, but this one in Connecticut is a haunting sight. The community known as Johnsonville bloomed around the river-powered Neptune Mill, which was built in 1832. The town included a quaint chapel, homes and industrial buildings, but a lightning strike in 1972 destroyed the mill, and it was eventually abandoned. Despite being tipped for renovation, the 19th-century settlement remains neglected and perishing today.
Sprouting greenery from its ramparts and floating in the Atlantic Ocean's Casco Bay, Fort Gorges was built from 1858 in order to protect Portland harbour. But by the time it was finished, in 1864, it was already outmoded and unsuitable for modern military operations. It was thus abandoned and left to decay and – apart from a brief stint in use during the Second World War – has remained so ever since. Friends of Fort Gorges offers guided tours of the structure.
A classic Old West mining town, Calico was established in the 1880s when prospectors found silver in the region, and the town exploded and prospered. At its peak, there were no less than 500 mines here. However, by the end of the 19th century, the value of silver had plummeted and the operation was no longer profitable. Residents poured out and Calico became a ghost town. Now its abandoned buildings have been restored and they're protected as part of the Calico Ghost Town Regional Park – after you've peeked at the buildings, hit the hiking trails and camp out under the stars.
America's abandoned theme parks are extra haunting, given the stark contrast the deserted lands have with their former selves. Once the laughing families have gone and the whizzing roller coasters have halted, what remains seems ghostly and uncanny. This is true of Rose Island, a family-focused park with a zoo, Ferris wheel and wooden coaster. In 1937, it was devastated by the Ohio River Flood and now just scattered fragments are left, from a stagnant ivy-covered pool to a series of arches and foundations.
The hot, dry Mojave National Preserve is an unforgiving place, and this forgotten ghost village is folded within its limits. Kelso was established in 1905 and served primarily as a railroad town, and a welcome pitstop for those travelling by. A series of mines gave Kelso a further boost, but the town couldn't stand the test of time. The mines closed in the Seventies, with the train depot following suit in the Eighties. However, it was happily spared the wrecking ball and was instead taken under the wing of the National Park Service.
This sprawling Spanish-inspired castle is a surprising sight in Death Valley. It was built in the 1920s by millionaire Albert Mussey Johnson, as a holiday spot for himself and his wife – however, his crafty friend Walter Scott, who'd duped him into pumping money into a fraudulent mine in the area, took credit for the structure (hence the name). Building work was halted in the 1930s, when Johnson discovered he was constructing on federal land, and the castle was abandoned. The deserted structure is now part of Death Valley National Park but is currently closed due to severe flooding in 2015 followed by a fire. However, it's possible to join a restoration tour of the castle with advanced reservations.
As was common in America's earliest prisons, Wyoming Frontier Prison, which opened in the early 20th century, suffered with severe problems of overcrowding during its time. Conditions were particularly bad here though, with a lack of running water and heating, and a formidable max-security block. High-profile inmates included Annie Bruce, who was the first woman convicted of murder in the state. The prison closed in the 1980s and was left abandoned. There are eight daily tours of the historic cell blocks and you can also visit the prison museum.
One of America's best-known abandoned theme parks, this Six Flags location (formerly Jazzland) operated right up until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. It originally opened in 2000, with Big Easy-inspired architecture and plenty of thrill rides, but the hurricane plunged the park under some six feet (1.8m) of water. Now eerie, weather-beaten carousels, cracked dodgems and overgrown tracks litter the forgotten park.
This curious castle, with its soaring minarets, spires and turrets, looks thoroughly out of place in the North Carolina countryside – but that's all part of its charm. It was conceived of by local artist Robert Mihaly, who began work in 2000. However, after Mihaly and his wife separated, his work came to an abrupt halt and the project was left forgotten, spoiling and graffitied. Nevertheless, plans to revamp the building have surfaced, so the future of Castle Mont Rouge might be bright.
Another creepy island hospital, Riverside was built on North Brother Island in the late 19th century and intended to treat (and quarantine) patients with infectious diseases. The hospital's most famous resident was Mary Mallon (or Typhoid Mary), who was the first-known carrier of typhoid – she died here in 1938. Today its remains are chilling and vine-strangled, and the whole island is protected as a bird sanctuary. Public access is not permitted.
The treasures of the western state of Idaho are often overlooked, and Silver City is a fine example of a Gold Rush ghost town. It thrived in the late 19th century as a silver- and gold-mining settlement, and even served as the county seat of Owyhee County for a period too. However, a remote location and a decline in the industry led to its abandonment. Now the hodge-podge of about 75 atmospheric original buildings are listed on the National Register – it's possible to stay at the renovated Idaho Hotel (pictured) again too.
It's not that often that a veritable ghost town exists within city limits – usually they're strung out in the desert, or ringed by mountains, on land once rich in treasures. However, Peppersauce sits within the borders of Calico Rock, a city in northern Arkansas. The town once relied on the local cotton industry, but when this faltered, it went into decline. Now the creepy abandoned district, filled with overgrown houses and former businesses, is dotted with information plaques that bring its history to life.
There's something unsettling about the forgotten Gibraltar Mansion, whose facade is strangled with greenery and whose bricks are faded by sunlight. You might almost expect to see a figure appear at one of the cracked windows. The once-grand estate, which was built by a cotton merchant in the 1840s, has been abandoned since the 1990s. You can view its exterior from the flower-filled Marian Coffin Gardens, which are open to the public. As of January 2024, plans are afoot to preserve the estate for future generations of the city to enjoy.
Deep in Sweetwater Creek State Park, you'll find the remains of a textile mill once operated by the New Manchester Manufacturing Company. It was built in the 19th century and was a casualty of the Civil War, almost razed to the ground by Union forces. Now all that remains of the mill is a striking red-brick husk, which can be viewed on a guided hike through the park. The ruins are pictured here before a blazing fall backdrop.
A lush hiking route (the aptly named Old Club Med Trail) leads to this atmospheric huddle of ruins. Though they're completely indistinguishable today, these lone walls and arches once formed part of the Old Club Med, a lavish resort that peaked in the 1960s and 1970s. It was abandoned as its golden age dimmed and now its remnants are smothered by greenery.
This once-cheerful amusement park has a long history, beginning in the 1850s when it was first established as a recreation area. The spot was so popular that the landowners began adding rides and eventually Cyclone, a whizzing wooden roller coaster, cemented it as a favourite local attraction. However, over the decades, changes in ownership and a devastating hurricane led to the site's demise and closure. Now a handful of ramshackle, overgrown rides are the only reminders of the once-beloved park.
New York's Catskill Mountains are an enchanting place, and they're made even more so by ruins like this one. The Neo-Gothic structure – which has earned the moniker, the 'Castle of Sorrow' – dates to the 1910s, when it was built for Ralph Wurts-Dundas. However, the affluent New Yorker died before the castle was finished and it was passed on to his daughter, who was never able to see out its completion. It's been deserted since the 1970s and several creepy legends are attached to it: not least that Ralph's widow, Josephine, haunts the place.
It wasn't just dwindling reserves that sealed the fate of this mining town – a devastating fire tore through the settlement in 1912 and burnt it to the ground. Before that, it had been a buzzy settlement with a healthy dose of saloons, hotels and houses, which had built up around mining efforts for gold and garnets (hence the name). After the blaze, Garnet was deserted and forgotten and today its 30 or so original buildings stand much as they once were.
In its heyday, during the Seventies and Eighties, this waterpark was state-of-the-art, with twirling water slides and giant pools. But ultimately visitation stopped and the park was closed. It had a new lease of life as a Route-66-themed attraction in the Nineties, but a tragic accident on one of the slides closed its gates once more. The desert crushed the abandoned park in its grip, fading its signs, scorching its ruins and leaving everything covered in dust.
This one-time mining town was founded on copper, growing at the turn of the century and eventually housing around 500 people, most of whom were miners. Even a fire, which all but destroyed the town, couldn't thwart the folks here: the settlement was rebuilt as demand for copper continued to soar. Empty reserves eventually closed the mines in the 1930s and the workers packed up and left. Ruins of a saloon and hospital remain, and there's a museum in the old jail too.
New York's Letchworth Village was actually designed as a large complex for the mentally ill, dreamt up as an antidote to more traditional asylums. The centre comprised more than 100 buildings, and was a home for around 2,000 patients – but, sadly, the institution wasn't geared up for these numbers and conditions suffered. Reports of maltreatment also ensued and the facility was finally closed in the 1990s. Now its Neo-Classical buildings are still left rotting, serving as haunting reminders of a macabre past.
Only two coastal fortifications from the Spanish-American War remain, and this is one of them. It sits on dreamy, Spanish-moss-draped Saint Helena island, and dates to the late 19th century. Once it was a sprawling complex, with barracks, a mess hall, a hospital and stables, and now its green-clad ruin comprises bastions and shadowy tunnels.
Rusted cars, houses with near caved-in roofs and a stark, barren landscape – that's what those passing through Ardmore can expect to see. The Old West town was founded back in 1889 and was a key stop along the New Burlington Railroad. However, drought left this once busy settlement stricken, and trains eventually ceased stopping here too. What's left is a mere echo of the town that once was.
There are just a few remaining vestiges of Metropolis, a city envisioned by the Pacific Reclamation Company and situated amidst acres of farmland. Plans got off to a good start from 1911, with streets drawn up, a huge dam built and a slew of businesses opening up. Some 700 inhabitants moved in and called the town home. However, as drought took hold, farmers were driven out, and the town was gradually abandoned. Now all you'll find is a scattering of ruins like this brick arch and some rust-ravaged cars.
North Carolina's coastal Outer Banks region is one of America's best-kept secrets as it is – and this fascinating ghost town is another reason to visit. Portsmouth Village boomed as a shipping town in the 1700s, but a series of events led to its demise. It was hard hit during the Civil War and a storm also ripped through the settlement. As the shipping industry dwindled, the residents leaked out. The last pair left in 1971, and now you can explore the Methodist church and other abandoned buildings on a ranger-led tour.
Oregon's most famous ghost town is gloriously rustic, with quaint wooden buildings that blend seamlessly into its bucolic surroundings. It sprang up during the 19th-century Gold Rush, in the 1840s, with prospectors rushing in from all over the States. Only four original buildings remain at the site now – the highlight is this century-plus-old wooden church with its teetering steeple.
Check out these haunting photos of the world's abandoned sacred places